Fast-track Iran fuel sanctions

The world does not have a lot of time to peacefully prevent Iran, the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, from getting (nuclear) weapons. It will take the will of key countries to stop Iran — but America must lead by example.

While the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Iran
Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act (H.R. 2194) recently by a vote of
412-12, it still must come to the Senate floor for a vote and be signed
into law.

Majority Leader Harry Reid had pledged to bring significant sanctions
legislation to the floor once the Senate reconvened last week. There is
no time to waste. The sanctions bill needs to be passed and put into
law now while there is still time to stop Iran peacefully.

The biggest stick the international community can wield remains Iran’s
dependence on imported gasoline. Iran has not developed enough capacity
to refine its crude oil into gasoline. By stopping such imports, we can
help encourage either the regime to change its policies — or the regime
itself to change.

In addition to cutting off gasoline sales, the international community,
led by the United States, should provide incentives to foreign banks
and companies to eliminate investments in Iran’s energy sector and in
firms that help the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

America should do all it can to stop Iran without a war, but to do that, the Senate and White House must act now!